Froth-flotation process for slime-containing ore pulps



Patented Mar. 7, 1933 umrso STATES PATENT. oFricE mm B. 02 IKDIAKAPOLIS, HWDIANA, ASSIGIl'OR '20 PETER REILLY, OF A INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ram rwrerron rnoonss res, snmaconramme'onn roars Ho Drawing, Application filed fuly 31,

This invention relates to improvements in the concentration of oxidized ores by the froth-flotation process, and has special reference to a means for overcoming the detri-' 5 mental efiect of slimes in the separation of minerals by the froth-fiotation process.

This invention is based on the discovery that the use of fluosilicates of the class including hydrofluosilicic acid (H SiF sodium fluosilicate (lfla Silt potassium fiuosilicate (K SiF ,calciumfiuosilicate GaSiF,) ,magnesium fiuosiiicate (M SiF and ammonium fiuosilicate ((NH S1F in the froth-flotation operation, modifies the character of exp dized-ore.pulps so that a sharper, cleaner,

and more satisfactory flotation can beacoomplished. In some cases the use of these compounds makes it possible to apply the flotation process where it would otherwise commercially tail.

As is well known, the froth-flotation process necessitates the grinding of an ore to a suitable fineness and in doing this a part of the ore is reduced to a size commonly known as slimes. Also, many ores contain a relatively large amount of slimes in then natural state; particularly ores commonly known to miners'and millmen as oxidized ores, which may he carbonates, but'are 0 .en partly or largely sulfates, hydroxides, oxides, and analogous compounds, and are usually quite, complex. These slimesusually contain a relatively large amount of colloidal slime's, both organic and inorganic, and quasi-colloidal slimcs. In' general the natural slimes contam more of the colloidal and quasi-colloidal matter than do slimes produced artificially by grinding. 3th most ores the presence of slimes in 40 the ulp is a serious im diment to .the success concentration 0 the mineral values by the froth-flotation process, and in many cases theconcentration' of mineral is made impossible by the presence of slimes. 4 The actual cause of the deleterious efiect 1ptartly or wholly -true 1881. Serial No. 554,885. r

of slimes in the froth-flotation process has not a manner similar to thatof gangue particles.

I have discovered that by the use of small amounts of fiuosilicates of the class including hydrofinosilicic acid. (H SiF sodium fiuosilicate (Na SiF potassium fluosilicate (msire), and ammonium fluosilicate (NIL) SiF and in some cases calcium fluosilicate (CaSiF and magnesium fluosilicate (MgSiF in the froth-flotation of oxidized ores, the slimes are dispersed and their deleterious effects are overcome and the following advantages are obtained in the frothflotation process: I

(1) A sharper, cleaner, and more satisfactorv concentration of mineral in oxidizedore pulps containing slimes.

(2) A ready concentration of mineral'in slime-containing oxidized ore pulps which are in general diflicult to concentrate by the froth-flotation process.

(3) A concentration of mineral in certain mineral oxidized-ore pulps consisting entirely of slimes. I i

(4) A higher grade concentrate.

(5) A lower loss in the tailing.

(6) Generally, the ability to use a smaller amount of other necessary flotation reagents. (7) Generally, a. more rapid formation of the froth.

(8) A froth which is highly selective in its action. 7 Examples of theuse of these fluosilicates are given below: Examplel shows the use of hydrofluosilicic acid and of sodium fluosilicate respectively on an oxidized-ore pulp containing both sands and slimes, both I in a neutral circuit and in an alkaline circuit. Example II shows the use of these compounds on an oxidized-ore pulp substantially free from slimes. Example III shows theme of the same materials on an oxidized ore pulp containing slimes only. In these examples, the flotation reagent and the selectors named are given merely by way of example, as any suitable flotation reagent and any suitable selector may be used.

Example I A so-called oxidized ore of copper, containing some sulfid minerals and other minerals such as atacamite (CuCl -3Cu(OH) brochantite (CuSO -3Cu(OH) and chalcanthite (CuSO -5H O), washed free of soluble salts but not deslimed, and containing 1.06% copper, was floated, using 0.15 lb. pine oil per ton of ore, in conjunction with other reagents as indicated below in pounds per ton of ore.

HzSiFs Test Selector flliiiq- (OH): per re- 51 C10 covery acid silicate a 0.25 lb. Potassium ethyl None. None. 2.0lbs. 28.0

. xanthate.

b 0.25 lb. Potassium ethyl None. 2.01bs. 2.0lbs. 49.0

xanthate.

c 0251b. Potassium ethyl 1.01b. None. 2.01bs. 45.0

xanthate.

a 0.15 lb. Dithiocyenooleic None. None. None. No reac covery.

e 0.15 lb. Ditbilocyeno-oleic None. 4.01bs. None. 86.0

f 0.151b. Dithipcyanobleic 1.011). None. None. 84.0

(The use of dithiocyano-oleic acid as a selector is the subject-matter of my co-pending application Serial No. 522,790, filed March Example I I Hydro Sodium Cop Test Selector 58,} per re acid acid covery 9 0.1511). Dithiocyeno-oleic acid None. None. 61.0 h 0.15 lb. Dithiocyano-oleic acid None. 1.01b. 90.0 i 0.15 lb. Dithiocyano-oleic acid 1. 01b. None. 92. 0

Example I l I Hydro Sodium (7 00 p- Test Selector g g' p e.- reacld acid i .25 lb. Dltblocyano oleic acid None. None. None. .25 lb. Dithiocyano olelc acid None. 6. 0lbe. 85. 0 l .25 lb. Ditblocyano olelc acid 2 Olbs. None. 84. 0

These examples show very markedly the beneficial effect that the use of these fluosilicates as dispersing agents for the slimes has on the copper recovery.

Following similar procedures as those described in the above examples, but using another type of oxidized ore in which the valuable constituents were vanadium minerals, I have used calcium fiuosilicate and ammonium fluosilicate, respectively, and have obtained a bi h recove of the vanadium minerals in t e form 0 a high-grade product.

Although I have given specific examples to illustrate my invention, they are illustrative only. Variations in the quantities of reagents employed, the combinations of reagents, the kind of oxidized ore, and the steps of the procedure, may be varied in practice as determined by the composition of the given oxidized ore without departing from the invention claimed. I

I have found that the fluosilicates can be used in the crude form as well as in the relatively pure'form. I have used with excellent results the crude hydrofluosilicic acid and sodium fluosilicate which are produced as by-products in the manufacture of fertilizer from phosphate rock. Likewise, I have used the crude form of calcium fluosilicate with satisfactory results, as well as the relatively pure product.

These fluosilicates can be used with desirable and effective results in alkaline, neutral, or acid circuits. In some cases, as with calcium fluosilicate, the action is better in neutral or acid circuits.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of concentrating slime-containing oxidized ore pulps by froth flotation, comprising modifying a slime-containing oxidized-ore pulp with a fiuosilicate of the class including hydrofiuosilicic acid,

sodium fluosilicate, potassium fluosilicate, calcium fluosilicate, magnesium fluosilicate, and ammonium fluosilicate; and subjecting the modified oxidized-ore pulp to the froth fiotation process. 1

2. The process of concentrating slime-concontaining oxidized-orel. pulps by froth-v fiotation, comprising modifying a slime-com taining oxidized-ore ulp wlth a fluosili cate of the class inclu 'n'g hydrofluosilici'c acid, sodium fiuosilicat'e, potassium fiuosilicate, calcium fiuosilicate, magnesium fluosilicats, and ammonium fiuosilicate; and subjecting the modified oxidized-ore pulp to the frothdiotation process with pine oil as the frothing reagent. I

3. The process of concentrating slime-containing oxidized-ore pulps by froth flotation, comprising modifying a slime-containing oxidized-ore? pulp with hydrofluosilicic acid; and subjecting the modified oxidizedoce pulp to the froth-flotation process, v

4. The process of concentrating slime-containing oxidized-ore pulps by froth flotation, comprising modifying a slime-containing oxidized-ore pulp ithsodium fiuosilicats; and suhjecting the modified oxidizedore pulp to thefrotbflotation process.

5. The process of concentrating slime-containing oxidizedpre pulps by froth fictation, comprising modifying a slime-containing oxidizedcre pulp with ammonium fluosilicate oxidized-ore pulp to the froth-flotation process,

6. The process of concentrating slime-contaming pulps of oxidized ores by. froth flotation, comprising modifying the siime containing pulp of an oxidized ore with Iluosiiicate of the class including hydrofluosilicic, acid, sodium fiuosilicate, potassium fluosilicate, calcium fluosilicate, magnesium iluosilicate, and ammonium lluosilicate; and

subjecting the modified oxidized-ore pulp to the froth-flotation. process,

modification of an oxidized-ore 7 The process of concentrating slime-contaming pulps of copper-bearlng oxidized ores by froth flotation, comprlsmgmodifying the slime-containing pulp of a copperhearing oxidized ore with a fiuosilicate of the class including hydrofluosilicic acid, so dium fluosilicate, potassium fluosilicate, calcium fluosilicate, magnesium fluosilicate, and ammonium fiuosilicate; and subjectin the modified oxidized-ore pulp to the rethfiotation rocess.

8. In t e froth-flotation process for concentrating minerals of oxidized ores, the pulp to which the process is applied bythe introduction as a di ersing agent of a fluosilicate of the class inc uding hydrofluosilicic acid, sodium fluosilicate, potassium fluosilicate, calcium fluosilicate, magnesium fiuosilicate, and ammonium fluosilicate,

9. The step in the process of concentrating an oxidized-ore pulp by froth flotation, comprising dispersing shmes present m an oxidized-ore pulp by the'addition to said and subjecting the modified tassium fiuosilicate, calcium fluosilicate,

magnesium fluosilicate, and ammonium silicate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis,

of July, A. D. and thirty-one.

Indiana, this 29th day one thousand nine hundred MAHIIN S. HAN SEN.

I Certificate of Correction PatentNo.1,90Q,850. v

MAHLIN s. H/ANSEN It is hereby certified that error appears in the rinted specification of theabovenumbered patent requirin correction as follows: age 1, line 75, page 2, line 9, and line 122, claim 1, for oxi ized ore read oxidized-ore age 2, after line 25, in the boxed heading to table, column 6, for (321- (CH) read a,(0H) page 3, line 37, claim 6, after the syllable silicic' strike out the comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of April, A. D. 1933.

5 1.1 M J. MOORE,

Acting flomwsimwr of Patents.

March 7,1933. 

